County jobless rate down, but job growth remains flat

mgnonline.com

By Chris Lavender / Times-News

Published: Wednesday, February 5, 2014 at 06:01 PM.

Alamance County’s unemployment rate continued to decline in December, dropping to 6.4 percent from 6.8 percent in November. And compared to December 2012 when the rate was 9.3 percent, it’s a substantial decrease.

But does that mean the county has more jobs?

Not really.

Alamance County Finance Officer Tom Manning explained the situation on Monday to the Alamance County Board of Commissioners, two days before the state released its most recent percentages.

Comparing November 2012 to November 2013, Manning said the county’s labor force decreased from 74,344 to 72,558. The number employed in the county in November 2012 was 67,656 as compared to 67,670 in November 2013.

Manning said while the unemployment rate decreased from 9 percent in November 2012 in the county to 6.7 percent in November 2013 the county’s total labor force declined by 1,768 during the period. Manning said this was due in part to people no longer looking for work, dropping out of the labor force, or those who moved away seeking opportunities elsewhere.

Alamance County’s unemployment rate continued to decline in December, dropping to 6.4 percent from 6.8 percent in November. And compared to December 2012 when the rate was 9.3 percent, it’s a substantial decrease.

But does that mean the county has more jobs?

Not really.

Alamance County Finance Officer Tom Manning explained the situation on Monday to the Alamance County Board of Commissioners, two days before the state released its most recent percentages.

Comparing November 2012 to November 2013, Manning said the county’s labor force decreased from 74,344 to 72,558. The number employed in the county in November 2012 was 67,656 as compared to 67,670 in November 2013.

Manning said while the unemployment rate decreased from 9 percent in November 2012 in the county to 6.7 percent in November 2013 the county’s total labor force declined by 1,768 during the period. Manning said this was due in part to people no longer looking for work, dropping out of the labor force, or those who moved away seeking opportunities elsewhere.

Manning said from November 2012 to November 2013 the county added 14 total jobs based on the state’s employment data. Manning said to fully understand the county’s employment picture, taking a deeper look beyond the unemployment rate was needed.

Alamance County’s labor force in December was 71,543, and 4,601 were unemployed, the state Department of Commerce reported on Wednesday. The 6.4 percent figure ranks the county 28th in the state in terms of unemployment rates.

Unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) decreased in 86 North Carolina counties in December, increased in 11, and remained the same in three. All 14 metro areas saw their unemployment rates decrease.

The lowest unemployment rate was in OrangeCounty: 4.1 percent. Durham-Chapel Hill had the lowest rate among metro areas: 4.9 percent.

Since November, Burlington has seen a 3.8 percent decrease in mining, logging and construction employment, a 1.4 percent decrease in professional and business services employment, and a 1.7 percent increase in trade, transportation and utilities employment. Manufacturing, information, financial activities, education and health services, leisure and hospitality, government and other services were unchanged.

Over the past year, Burlington has seen a 5.3 percent decrease in financial activities employment and a 1.1 percent decrease in manufacturing employment. Leisure and hospitality employment increased 4.3 percent, trade, transportation and utilities employment increased 1.7 percent, and professional and business services employment increased 1.5 percent. Mining, logging and construction, information, education and health services, government and other services were unchanged.

In December, six counties had unemployment rates of 5 percent or less; in November, only three counties had 5 percent or less. In December, 89 counties had unemployment rates of 5 to 10 percent; in November, 91 counties had 5 to 10 percent. In December, five counties had unemployment rates of 10 percent or more; in November, six counties had 10 percent or more.

The number of employed workers statewide (not seasonally adjusted) decreased in December by 32,140 to 4,315,366, while those unemployed decreased 17,561 to 305,196. Since December 2012, the number of workers employed statewide increased 29,050, while those unemployed decreased 140,214.

Compared to the same month last year, unemployment rates (not seasonally adjusted) decreased in all 100 counties.